
Our Comrade 

General 
John A. Logan 




Compliments of 

General John C. Smith 



Our Comrade 



General John A. Logan 



Member of Ulysses S. Grant Post, No. 28 

Department of Illinois 

Grand Army of the Republic 



October /j, 190^ 



By Commander Comrade General John C. Smith 

Ex-Lieutenant (Jovemor, Etc. 






DESIGNERS 
ENGRAVERS 
PRINTERS 



Xl2)^^l 



*i*^ 




GENERAL JOHN A, LOGAN 



ADDRESS 



("onu'adcs of riyssos S. (li'aiil Post and the (Iraiid Army 
of the Rei)ul)li(', in addrossiiii;- you hricfly upon tlic life and 
military services of (len. Jolui A. liOt^an, a l()n<i-tinu' nit>nihor 
of this Post, I speak to soldiers many of whom served in his 
command and all knew liim personally. This makes it more 
pleasant to your speaker as it puts s]ieaker and audience in 
closer touch, knowing that ail who knew Comrade Logan 
admired and respected him for the brave soldier that he had 
been, the tried and able statesman that he was and the pure 
patriot he ever had ])r()ven himself. 

No soldier wanted for a friend while (leiieral Logan lived, 
and no statesman labored so well and so faithfully to secure 
justice to tlie brave men wlio composed the armies of LS6I-60, 
as our lamented Comrade. 

History is but the record of wars punctuated with a few 
great battles by which kingdoms have been overthrown, 
empires enlarged, or the liberties of the peopl(> liave l)een 
gained, as in our own War of the Revolution. 

If it be true that "peace hath her victories no less re- 
nowned than war," it is only through a pathway blazed by 
the sword and cut witli the rifle, and which, I fear, it will be 
until time shall be no more. 

In the great wars of the world, and all along its history, 
we find here and there a name which has survived the decay 
and forgetfulness which befall all nature and most events. 
Among the names of the past we recall an Alexander the Great, 
a (':osar, or Hannibal; while in our own time, we liave a Napo- 
l(M)n and a Wellington, a W^ashington and a Grant. Few are 



the names of those who. as Heutenants and advisers of the 
great commanders, survive the centuries. We will not attempt 
to recall them, but content ourselves with those of the near past. 
An Ethan Allen, Israel Putnam, Alexander Plamilton, Nathaniel 
(ireene and General LaFayette are the best known associated 
with the immortal Washington; while Generals W. T. Sherman, 
Philij) H. Sheridan, George G. Meade, George H. Thomas 
(the rock of Chickamauga), John A. Rawlins and John A. 
Logan are the best known who served with the invincil:)le Grant. 
Each named but the last two were educated soldiers, who, by 
their skill and bravery, won imperishable fame, but it is of the 
latter we would speak. 

John A. Logan was a son of Illinois, as was John A. Rawlins, 
and each were volunteer soldiers who, when the flag of their 
country was assailed, left their peaceful avocations and drew 
the sword in its defense. When the war ended, crowned with 
glory they returned the sword to its scabbard and re-entered 
peaceful pursuits. 

Gen. John A. Logan was born in Jackson Count3\ Illinois, 
February 9, 1826, and died in the Nation's Capital, Washing- 
ton, I). C, December 26, 1886. Educated in the schools of 
his native State, he had not yet attained the age of manhood 
when the war with Mexico liegan. Taking up the musket 
he enlisted for the war, and w^hen peace was restored returned 
home a Lieutenant of "H" Company. 1st Regiment Illinois 
Volunteers, and resumed his studies again. After a l^rief 
academic course in a Kentucky educational institute, our 
Comrade adopted the profession of law, and was soon after 
elected the prosecuting attorney for his count}'. When but 
twenty-six years of age he was elected to the State Legislature, 
where he served for two terms. In 1858 he was elected to the 
Congress of the I'nited States, and in 1860 re-elected by a 
majority of over 18,000. 

In the performance of his duties Comrade Logan was in 
Washington, attending the special session of Congress, when 
the disastrous battle of Bull Run was fought, and with other 
members of the House of Representatives went out to the 

G 



battle-field, but to meet the Union troops retroatinp; in confusion. 
Seizing a musket from a i)anic-stricken soUlier, lie vainly did 
the best he could to stay the retreat. At the close of the 
special session, our Comrade returned home with authority 
from President Lincoln to recruit a rciriincnt for the war. He 
went 1(1 l\is old lioiiic. ])()lili(';dly then in touch with the South- 
rons who were in rchc^llion, antl whose people were charged 
with being in sympathy with the rebels. Never was there so 
base a slander, as was afterwards proven, for (leneral Logan's 
district was one t)f the districts which filled ever}' call of the 
immortal Lincoln for troops during the war without having 
to resort to a draft, and had a surplus to its credit. 

Rejiorting to General Grant with his regiment, the 31st 
Illinois Infantry Volunteers, our Comrade was with that Great 
Commander in his first battle at Belmont, where he did good 
service. 

We next find him at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, w'here, 
upon the right, he assisted in repelling the onslaught of Generals 
Pillow and Floyd, and thus prevented the escape of their 
forces. Severely wounded, by two bullets, he had to be 
carried from the field, but not until the victory was won. 

Returning home Comrade Logan recovered in time to 
participate in the Siege of Corinth under that academic soldier, 
General Halleck, who, through jealousy of the rising fame of 
Grant, had relieved him of active command of the army and 
nominated him as "second in command," a grade never before 
known to our army and never revived since, which was 
practically retirement in the face of the enemy. Having 
been promoted to Brigadier-General and assigned a brigade, 
Logan here developed the military instinct which proved 
him a soldier. With his command astride the Mobile and Ohio 
Railw^ay, which ran into Corinth, he heard the rumbling of the 
heavy trains running in and out of the enemy's camp, and 
believing the rebels were about to evacuate the place, so re- 
ported to General Grant. That soldier, being only second in 
command, could but forward the report of General Logan to 
his superior, which he i:)romptly did, and with his own endorse- 

7 



iiieuts. Halleck treated the report with indifference, inti- 
mating that Logan was ' ' talking through his hat " and that he had 
better be attending to his duties and not writing such nonsense. 
In the stiUness of the night the running of trains could more 
distinctly be heard, and General Logan, applying his ear to 
the rail, became convinced from the difference in sound that 
the trains going into Corinth -were empty and those coming 
out were heavily laden, again reported to General Grant, 
asking permission to feel the enemy, and, if he found him 
withdrawing, to attack. Impressed with Logan's earnestness, 
General Grant endorsed and again sent the report to his 
superior officer, who, angered with Logan's persistency, 
threatened to relieve him of his command and put him under 
arrest if he sent any more such reports. 

It was unnecessary, as it was soon afterwards learned 
that the enemy had evacuated Corinth as General Logan 
feared and of which General Grant, in his Memoirs, says: 
"May 28, 1862, General Logan informed me that the enemy 
had been evacuating for several days, and that, if allowed, 
he could go into Corinth with his brigade." Yet "Old Brains," 
as General Halleck was called, with a vastly superior force 
than the enemy, after consuming six weeks in advancing 
twenty miles, and intrenching an army of 100,000 on May 
30th, issued his celebrated Corinth battle order, and in that 
order he said: "There is every indication that the enemy 
will attack our left this morning, as troops have been moving 
in that direction for some time. It will be well to make prepa- 
ration to send as many of the reserves as can be spared of the 
right wing in that direction, as soon as an attack is made in 
force." The army was sent into the trenches, and Halleck, 
with a handful of spades, sat down to the game where Enfields 
were trumps and artillery the winning card. There was no 
enemy in his front. Beauregard had commenced to evacuate 
Corinth, May 26th, and had entirely withdrawn May 29th, leaving 
in his earthworks a lot of wooden artillery, "cjuaker guns," 
but not a sick or wounded Confederate. 

Do you wonder that the (ireat Commander, the invincible 



(irant, trusted Loiiaii. ami cai'ly i-ccoiiiuicikIccI liiiii for pro- 
motion? 

From ("oi'iiitli to the operations in ami alioiit \ icksl)ur<:;, 
in conniiand of a dixision. in the army ot'tlrant. who had Ix'cn 
restored to lull connnand. we iind oni- Comrade e\-ei- in the 
front; Ins dix'ision (i<i.iilinu the hatth" of l{a\inond. and. with 
(leneral Ilo\i\\"s Division of .MeClernaiurs Corps, winnin<j; 
another victory, hnt two (hiys hiter, at Cliami)ion Hills. 

ln\estin,u- X'icksluiru .Ma\- IS. istio. (nif distinunished Com- 
rade oecnpied the center and most advanced [yosition in that 
memorable sietre. .Inly 4. istio, (ieneral Pend)erton capitn- 
lated. and. at th(> head of his ti'oops. ( ienei'al Lo<ian was the 
first to enter tlie captured city. The national Ha<i-, " ( )ld ( dory," 
beloniiing to the 4oth Illinois, one of bo<;an's re<i-iments. was 
the first to Hy from the courthouse, and that I'e^imeiit had 
been commanded l)y a personal friend of mine whom many of 
you have known. 1 refer to the coniieous and liallant (leu. 
John ]•]. Smith, who has so r(>centl>' been detailed for duty 
across the l)road ri\(>r of life, and is now bi\duacked on'Mame's 
eternal campinti' ui-ound." 

Dririnir our opei'ations at Chattanoojia. (leneral bofian, 
who had become a Major Ci(Miei-al. was in command of all the 
forceps along the lines of railway from Memphis to that city, 
where I occasionally saw and m(>t him. and where \w joined the 
combined armies of the Cumberland. Tennessee and Ohio, 
preparatoi'y to ihe Atlanta campaign, commencing May 4, 
1864. one of the world's greatest series of marches and battles. 

For one Inmdred and twenty days we were engaged in con- 
tinuous fighting and flanking. When not engaged in the attack 
or assault, the men were kept busy dodging the bullets which, 
like swai'nis of l)ee<. went zi])ping about their heads, or diving 
into the i-ifle-pits to escape the burstinii' shell. N'olleys of 
musketry sounded the daily reveille and the thunder of artillery 
the nightly taps. Oidy thos(> who were i)resent can recall the 
terrible physical and mental strain of those four long, hot 
sunmier months of d(>s])erate fighting a determined foe com- 
manded b\- one of their most skillful generals. 



Ill this canipaign General T.og'an bore a distiiiiiiushed part 
as the commander of the well-known Fifteenth Corps of the 
Army of the Tennessee. When our army confronted Buzzard 
Roost Gap and Rock}- Face Ridge. General McPherson was 
sent with the Army of the Tennessee through Snake Creek 
Gap with orders to throw his command across the railway, 
assault Resaca, and prevent the retreat of Johnson's army as 
Sherman attacked in front. Here, again, our brother dis- 
played his soldierly ((ualities. Satisfied from the information 
brought him b}- his scouts of the enemy's weakness, he asked 
his Commander that he be permitted to attack the fortifi- 
cations with one division of his corps, but was refused. The 
army fell back and assumed the defensive, and Johnson 
escaped. 

Of this failure to carry out his plans. General Sherman 
wrote: "Such an opportunity does not occur twice in a single 
life, but at the critical moment McPherson seems to have been 
a little timid." And yet he was a trained soldier, while Logan 
was but a volunteer. I would not undervalue the great work 
of our military academy, nor detract from the fame and splen- 
did services of Gen. James B. AlcPherson. for I think even 
I^ogan would have been a better soldier had he had the aca- 
demic training, but I do submit that a volunteer soldier may 
be found capable of conunanding armies, as our loved Comrade 
was, and that West Point never yet i)ut brains into a martinet. 
But our loved companion and Comrade was yet to be put to 
a crucial test of his ability to command an army, and it came 
at a very trying time. A time when under orders to advance, 
believing the enemy had evacuated Atlanta (July 22. 1S64) 
and the troops were on the march, the enemy attacked in force. 
General .McPherson was killed, and the command of the Army 
of the Tennessee fell upon General Logan. Rapidly changing 
front to meet the flank and rear attacks of the enemy, om- 
distinguished Comrade rode down the lines, encouraging the 
men. Leaping the hastily constructed bits of defense and 
fighting froiu each side, the battle raged for hours. Boldly 
and repeatedly the enemy attacked, and were as often repulsed 

10 



CHICAGO 

HISTORICAL 

SOCIETV 



l)y (»ui' iiallaiil ('(Hiirailc's skilll'iil iiioNcniciit.-- aii<l (lis|)(p>il ion 
of troops, ("oiitiiiuoiisly i-iiliiiL!, liis lines, at times like a per- 
fect (lemon of war, th(> hraxc l.oiian enthused tin- troops with 
his own (hiriiiji; spirit, and with " .McPhersoii and \'iclor\' " 
(which, litei-all\- t i-aiislaled, was "(iix-e ihcni liell. l)o\-s!") 
for his l)attk'-cry, the dealh of theii' hrave commandei-. the 
Chevalier Bayard of the I'liion army, was avon<;-e(l and Athinta 
won. 

( )f this action (leneral Sherman says: '"I ])urposely 
allowed the Ai-niy of th(> Tennessee to huht this haltle almost 
unaided," and a few da>-s latcM- calleil a soldier of another 
army, because he was a graduate of the military academy, to 
the command of that iilorioiis Army of the Tennessee, which, 
under the X'olunteer (lenei-al .lohii A. Loiian. had won him 
Atlanta. 

"Was not that an act of injustice? Did oui- Comrade then 
sulk or ask to l)e relieved? No; hut. like the true patriot and 
brave soldier that he was. he went back to the connnaiid of his 
loved Fifteenth Army Corps, and under the new commander 
he s(>rved until the campaign (Mided in Se])tend)er at Jonesboi-o. 

Of the conduct of Cieneral Logan and the ti'oops at .lones- 
boro, the new commander said: "I wish to expi-ess my high 
gratification with the conduct of the troops engaged. I never 
saw better conduct in liattle. (Jeneral I.ogan, though ill and 
much worn out, was indefatigable, and the success of the day 
is as much attributable to him as to any one man." 

And this is the salve General Sherman, whom we all lo\e, 
applied to the wound with which he pierced the gallant heart 
of our brave Conu-ade: 

" Heachpuirters Militai'y Division of the .Mississippi, 

■• In the Field near Atlanta, (la.. July 27, iSli-f. 
'' Gencntl John A. Logan: 

" Dear (ieneral : Take a good rest. I know you are worn 
out with mental and physical work. No one could have a 
higher ajipreciation of the responsibility thai devolved on you 
so unexi)ectedly, and the noble maimer in which you met it. 

11 



I fear you will feel (Usai)p()inte(l at not succeeding permanently 
to the command of the army and department. I assure you, 
in giving preference to (Jeneral Howard. I will not fail to give 
you every credit for having done so well. You have command 
of a good corps, a command that I would prefer to the more 
complicated one of a department, and if you will be patient 
it will come to you soon enough. Be assured of my entire 
confidence." 

1 will not criticise that letter, as this is not the time, neither 
is it the place, and the few remaining minutes at my disposal 
will not permit. But I will invite your attention, briefly, to 
what another wrote of Logan one year before — one who was 
never known to make a mistake in his judgment of soldiers 
competent to command. Writing of the battle of Raymond, 
May 12, 1863, and his opinion of the division commanders, 
General Grant says: "I regarded Logan and Crocker (the 
latter a young officer from Iowa) as being as competent division 
commanders as could l)e found in or out of the army, and 
both equal to a much higher command." In July following, 
after the close of the Mcksburg campaign and the capture 
of that city, the old commander wrote of these same two 
officers: "Logan and Crocker ended the campaign, fitted to 
command independent armies." 

The Atlanta campaign successfully closed, the Presidential 
canvass near an end, and the situation as to the re-election 
of Mr. Lincoln doubtful, at the request of President Lincoln, 
General Logan was given a leave of absence that he might 
return to Illinois and assist the government at home as he had 
done in the front, and upon all sides as he had at Atlanta, 
which he ditl and returned to the field. 

At this time Sherman was coming out at Savannah from his 
march to the sea; General Thomas was at Nashville with Hood 
in his front; General Grant, fearful that Hood would leave 
Nashville and go into Kentucky, became impatient that Thomas 
did not attack, and ordered General Logan to Tennessee to 
relieve Thomas. Here was the opportunity for General 

12 



I-oiiaii li;nl lie licni possessed nf the im n'l liii.'ile ainliiliiiii he 
was accused of, or the \iiidicl ixc spii-il he \\a> saiil In possess. 
Cleiieral Sheniiaii had said thai he did not considec F-o^uii 
"(Miual to the coimnand of thfee coi'ps." and that he was a 
"politician l)y nalui'e and expei'ieiice," in all of which ( lenefal 
'idiomas had au'i'cH'd. and had " fcinoiist fateil wai'inly against 
my ((icnei'al Sliefniaii) I'ecoininendinti that (lenei'al Lo<i;an 
shoulil he i'e<;iilafly assiiiiied to the coiiiinand of the Army of 
the Tennes.see l)y reason of his actual seiiiofity.'" (leiieral 
Lofi-an luul not l)eeii treated as an e(|ual in raid<. hy (leiieral 
Thomas pendinii tlu> movements at Chat tanoof;a. and \-et , 
realizing what all this meant to (leneral Thomas, the magnani- 
mous Logan delayed carrying General (Jrant's order into 
execution and proceeded deliberately toward Nashville. Was 
there ever such unselfishness displayed in high places? Was 
self ever so ignored in the varioiis changes which had taken 
place in the command of the Federal armies, and was act ever 
more generous? To those who knew General Logan as your 
speaker knew him, all this is quite plain and but characteristic 
of the man. Conscious of his own integrity, he had no other 
and)ition than to do right, todo his duty, to do unto others 
as he woukl have them do unto him, and to supplant no man. 

Arriving at Louisville, Ky., enroute to Nashville, and i)eing 
informed that Thomas had attacked General Hood, doubled 
u\) his left and was driving him, Logan wired General (irant 
and asked that he he recalled and Thomas left in command of 
his army. 

General Logan was recalled, proceeded to rejoin his old 
command, and shortly thereafter was assigned to the command 
of the Army of the Tennessee, and was its commander at the 
time of muster out on the close of that great war for the I'liion. 

Returning to civil life, our Comrade was soon callecl upon 
to take a seat in the halls of Congress as a mend:)er-at-large 
from Illinois, and in 1871 he was elected to the .'Senate of the 
United States. 

In 1878 it was my good fortune to head the ticket for State 
officers, and General Logan being a candidate for re-election 

1.3 



to the Senate, we canvassed the State together. During the 
several months of that exciting campaign we traveled and 
spoke together, and I came to know General Logan as I never 
before knew him. 

That he was a patriot, and a soldier competent to "com- 
mand independent armies," is the testimony of that great 
soldier whose honored name this Grand Army Post bears, 
who never failed in the selection of his lieutenants — Ulysses S. 
Grant. That he was an honest, able and incorruptible states- 
man, the records of the Congress of the United States attest: 
As a citizen, he did his full duty; as a father, he was kind and 
considerate ; while, as a husband, the love of that wife who still 
lives, gives ample proof. 

A few more words and I am done. It was my good fortune 
to be the Lieutenant-Governor of this great State wiien Senator 
Logan was a candidate for re-election the third time, and, as 
President of the State Senate, I frequently presided in joint 
session of both Houses during that long and exciting election, 
made so by the two parties having an equal number of votes 
on joint l^allot. That I several times saved General Logan 
from defeat, when unlawful means were resorted to, notably 
when the House refused to place upon its rolls of membership 
the name of Capt. William H. Weaver, who had been elected 
to fill a vacancy caused by the death of a member of the House, 
are well-know^n facts. But those days are past, and the General 
was re-elected, serving his coiuitry in its highest legislative 
branch until called to a brighter and better land. 

With the Governor and other State officers I attended the 
funeral of our dear Comrade in the Senate Chamber of the 
LTnitecl States and served as an honorary pall-bearer. General 
Logan was a Freemason from his earliest manhood and had 
become a member of Chevalier Bayard Commandery of this 
city, which Commandery sent me its beauseant to drape the 
casket of their loved Sir Knight, and learning that it would be 
pleasing to the loving and disconsolate wife that was left to 
moiu'n, I saw his casket wrapped with that emblem of our 

U 




MRS. JOHN A. LOGAN 



Comrade's faith, as it was with the flag of the country he had 
so nobly served, and they were buried with him. 

As all earthly things decay and disappear from view, 
taking on some other form of usefulness antl beauty, I think 
in the dim future that I see the morning sun take up the colors 
of our flag to beautify its refulgent rays, allotting its stars to 
the blue firmament about it. While, as Constantine of old saw 
the emblem of our faith in the heavens on the eve of ]:)attle 
assuring him of victory, so I see the cross of that Templar 
banner of Chevalier Bayard Commandery in the glorious light 
of the rising sun, and beside it the spirit of our Companion and 
Comrade, Major General John Alexander Logan. 

Comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic! As our 
ranks are being depleted and we approach the pontoon upon 
which to cross to that eternal Camping Ground upon which 
our Commanders are nearly all bivouacked, may we not as we 
pass in review the memory of the great deeds of our loved 
Comrade and Commander General, John A. Logan, exclaim: 
"Morituri te SahUant!" 



THE REVIEW 



"Morituri te salutant;" 

Say the soldiers, as they pass; 
Not in uttered words they say it, 

But we feel it as they pass: 
"We that are about to perish — 

We salute you as we pass." 



On his pawing steed the General 

Scans the waves of men that pass 

And his eyes at times are misty, 
Then are blazing, as they pass; 

And his breast with pride is heaving 
As the stalwart veterans pass. 



rjallant chiefs, their swords presenting. 
Trail them proudly as they pass; 

Battle banners, torn and glorious, 
Dip, saluting, as they pass; 

Brazen clangors shake the welkin 
As the marching columns pass. 



Oh, our comrades! gone before us. 
In the last review to pass, 

Never more to earthly chieftain 
Dipping colors as you pass — 

Heaven accord you gentle judgment 
When before its throne you pass! 



Naught of golden pomp or glitter 

Marks the veterans as they pass; 

Travel-stained, but bronzed and sinewy. 
Firmly, proudly on they pass; 

And we hear them — "Morituri 
Te salutant," as they pass. 



To the souls of all our perished 
We, who still saluting pass, 

Dip the flag and trail the saber 

As with wasted ranks we pass; 

And we murmur "Morituri 
Vos salutant," as we pass. 



16 




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